Reps propose road concession, toll gates to tackle Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit

The House of Representatives has called for the concession of eligible federal roads to private investors and the reintroduction of toll gates on selected highways as part of measures to address the country’s deteriorating road infrastructure.

The call was made in a motion jointly sponsored by Esosa Iyawe (APC, Edo), Olusola Fatoba (APC, Ekiti), Abdulmaleek Danga (PDP, Kogi) and Uche Okonkwo (NDC, Anambra) during Wednesday’s plenary.

Presenting the motion, Mr Iyawe said the poor condition of several federal roads was largely caused by prolonged neglect, inadequate maintenance, insufficient funding and the pressure from heavy-duty vehicles.

He said the situation has led to avoidable accidents, loss of life, vehicle damage, higher transportation costs, and delays in the movement of people and goods.

Mr Iyawe, in particular, highlighted the condition of federal roads in Edo State, describing the state as a major transportation corridor linking the South-South and South-east with other parts of the country.

He identified the Benin-Lagos, Benin-Asaba, Benin-Warri, and Benin-Okene corridors as roads requiring urgent rehabilitation.

According to him, the poor condition of the roads has affected commercial activities, increased the cost of transporting agricultural produce and other essential commodities, discouraged investment and imposed economic hardship on residents, commuters and businesses.

The lawmaker said relying on annual budgetary allocations to rehabilitate and maintain the extensive federal road network has not consistently delivered the required level of infrastructure renewal.

He therefore proposed using transparent Public-Private Partnership arrangements to attract private capital, technical expertise, and efficient project management for the rehabilitation, operation, and long-term maintenance of eligible federal roads.

He also called for the reintroduction of toll gates on selected rehabilitated highways, arguing that tolling could help private investors recover their investments while providing funds for routine maintenance and road safety operations.

“The reintroduction of properly regulated toll gates on selected rehabilitated federal highways could provide a sustainable mechanism for recovering private investment, financing routine maintenance, supporting road safety operations and generating revenue for the Federal Government,” the motion stated.

Mr Iyawe said toll gates could also create direct and indirect employment for host communities through toll administration, security services, traffic management, road maintenance and other businesses.

He further argued that strategically located toll plazas could serve as additional points for lawful security presence, intelligence gathering, emergency response and monitoring of vehicular movements when properly coordinated with security agencies.

However, he stressed that any tolling arrangement must be transparent, affordable and technologically efficient, with enforceable service standards to ensure motorists receive measurable improvements in road quality and safety in return for their payments.

He asked the House to urge the Federal Ministry of Works to develop a national framework for concessioning eligible federal roads to private investors under transparent PPP arrangements, prioritising roads requiring urgent rehabilitation and major economic corridors.

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He also urged the Ministry, in collaboration with the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, and other relevant agencies, to assess the federal road network and identify roads suitable for concessioning, rehabilitation, operation, and long-term maintenance.

Mr Iyawe further called for the reintroduction of toll gates on selected federal highways after substantial rehabilitation and the establishment of clear concession agreements.

The lawmaker said toll charges should be determined through transparent economic assessments, public consultation and affordability considerations.

Lawmakers seconded the motion, and Ajang Iliya (APC, Plateau) adopted it without debate.

Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, who presided over the plenary, referred the motion to the Committees on Public Assets, Works and Finance for further legislative action.

The committees are expected to engage relevant agencies on the proposed framework and report to the House within four weeks for further legislative action.